Wine event benefits 1,000 Books program

It’s a good guess that the hundreds who attended the annual Cujak’s Wine Market Holiday Wine Tasting at Fox Valley Savings Bank in November didn’t know their evening out was benefitting such a good cause. On Monday, Sara Cujak and Jim Ziebarth, vice president for FVSB Financial Services, presented a check for $3,500 to the Fond du Lac Public Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.

The free early literacy program reinforces parents’ role as their child’s first and best teachers by introducing reading into their daily lives as early as possible. The program offers goals and incentives to encourage families to read and use the public library. More than 130 children have finished 1,000 books since the program launched in January 2012.

“Support for early literacy has ramifications that echo for decades in our community,” said library Director Jon Mark Bolthouse. “Reading to children in their youngest years will prepare them for success in kindergarten and well beyond.

“The generosity shown by Sara Cujak and Fox Valley Savings Bank ensures the health of this vitally important program, and we are very grateful,” he said.

This is the third year that proceeds from the wine event have benefitted 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.

For more information about 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, visit the Kids page online or call the Children’s Desk at (920) 322-3940.

In the photo:Sara Cujak, center, of Cujak’s Wine Market, and Jim Ziebarth, right, vice president of FVSB Financial Services, stop in at the Fond du Lac Public Library Children’s Room to make a donation to the early literacy program, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. They are welcomed by library Director Jon Mark Bolthouse, Youth Services Coordinator Sarah Newton and Browser, the library mascot.